Current Challenges in Plant Breeding (ETH VVZ: 751-3603-00L)
| 2025_HS_PlantBreedChall | |
| 14.11.2025 - 21.01.2026 | |
| 2 days | |
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Start registration period: 05.08.2025 End of registration period: 06.11.2025 |
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| ETH Zurich, centre | |
| 5 | |
| 5 | |
| Students enrolled in PSC PhD Programs have priority. Free of charge to all Ph.D. students. | |
| Background: Agriculture today faces challenges, including the need to reduce pesticide and mineral fertilizer input, limit greenhouse gas emissions while maintaining biodiversity and food security in the face of global climate change. Topic: The course Current challenges in plant breeding (ETHZ 751-3603-00L) will deal with ?Plant breeding for planetary health – tackling agriculture’s grand challenges“. In the course, we would like to think out-of-the-box and explore how plant breeding can contribute to addressing these challenges through research and innovations that support sustainable solutions. The specific topics that will be covered are: ?Breeding for input-efficient agriculture – reducing mineral fertilizers and pesticides ?Breeding for net-zero agriculture ?Breeding for biodiversity ?Breeding for global food security Course objectives: The educational objectives cover competencies: Subject-specific competencies: ?Apply and deepen advanced scientific knowledge in plant breeding ?Critically evaluate current challenges, new methods and concepts in plant breeding ?Relate theoretical insights to practical plant breeding and identify opportunities for collaboration and research projects Method-specific competencies: ?Conduct independent literature research and synthesize findings into clear arguments ?Critically analyze scientific evidence and evaluate solutions ?Prepare and deliver a structured, evidence-based scientific presentation Social competencies: ?Collaborate effectively in interdisciplinary teams ?Present and defend findings in a public seminar, responding constructively to expert and stakeholder feedback ?Engage in science-based dialogue, fostering understanding and trust Personal competencies: ?Manage own learning process, from problem definition to public communication ?Reflect on societal dimensions of plant breeding methods ?Build and strengthen networks with peers, experts and practitioners in plant breeding For this year's course program and concept description - see the abstract below. | |
| Prof. Bruno Studer, Dr. Roland K?lliker & Dr. Andreas Hund | |
| 2 | |
| PhD & Master Students | |
| A solid background in plant breeding is required. Participation in the BSc course 'Pflanzenzüchtung' is strongly recommended, a completed course in 'Molecular Plant Breeding' is advantageous. | |
| English | |
| ungraded semester performance | |
By registering you agree to the PSC course terms and conditions AGBs | |
| Cancellation of a course registration should be arranged with the course coordination office psc_phdprogram@ethz.ch and is possible free of charge up to 2 weeks before the course starts. Later cancellations and failure to attend or incomplete attendance without documented justification will incur a fee of 200 CHF. | |
| Dr. Bojan Gujas (psc_phdprogram@ethz.ch) | |
| HS25_CurrentChallengesPlantBreeding_Studer.pdfvertical_align_bottom |